Rubber heel



G. J. REUTER.

RUBBER HEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1919.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Swim n kw Ma UNITED STATES GEORGE JOSEPH REUTER, ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

RUBBER HEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Application filed November 17, 1919. Serial No. 338,547.

To all whom it may concern:

- adapted to prevent wear and slipping. Said ribs are adapted to becompressed when the weight is placed on the heel, and to return tooriginal position when the weight is removed.

The reinforcing means preferably consist of layers of fabric extendingsubstantially normal to the tread surface, and are prefer'ably arrangedaround the nail holes. These portions of the heel are thus strengthenedand the heel is firmly held in place when nailed on. Some or all of thereinforced parts or regions are also preferably connected together byreinforcing means embedded in the material of the rubber heel lift. Forexample, such cross-connecting reinforces preferably form substantiallya semicircle about the rear of the lift, whereby the heel isstrengthened and reinforced against wear at the region of greatest wear.

The object of my invention is the provision of a reinforced rubber heelhaving the features of advantage above referred to, and with theforegoing and related objects in View, my invention consists in thefeatures, elements and combinations herein set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view'with parts broken away,and Fig. 2 is a section taken on the broken line 2-2, Fig. l.

The rubber heel 10 is provided with rings of reinforcing material asfabric 11, arranged about the holes 12 for the nails 13,

formed adjacent to the heel periphery andby which the rubber heel issecured in placeto the heel base 14.

The reinforcing material may be of various kinds and thicknesses. Threeplies of fabric are illustrated. The reinforcing material 11, preferablyextends at its inner edges to about the middle of heel lift 10 or atleast terminate short of the attaching surface of the lift, and itprojects beyond the bottom 15 of the heel, preferably about as shown at16, and about the projecting portion 16 the molded material of the heel10 is extended to form substantially an annular rib 17, containing theprojecting portion 16 of the reinforcing material. As the ring ofreinforcing material is spaced away from the nail holes and nails whichit surrounds, the nails are embedded in the mass of the rubber or rubbercomposition forming the body of the heel, which is continuous anduninterrupted. At the same time that portion of such rubber orcomposition about the nail head and within the ring of reinforcingmaterial is compacted or held from spreadin by the ring of reinforcingmaterial.

T-Ieels in accordance with the invention may simply have all or part ofthe nail holes surrounded with reinforced portions as described, butpreferably 1 also provide projecting reinforced rib portions connectingsome or all of the annular reinforces above described.

Such additional reinforced portions are preferably arranged at the backof the heel and, as shown, the front nail holes have the simple form ofreinforces 18 and 19, while the side reinforced regions 20 and 21 areconnected together and to the rear nail hole reinforced region 22 by thearcuate or crescent-shaped reinforce 23, contained in the raised moldedrib 24 of substantially arcuate or crescent-shape The extended arcuateportion 23 is preferably integral with the material of the connectedrings of fabric.

A rubber heel in accordance with my invention has added resiliency andcushioning effect, as compared with the ordinary flat form of heel,since the projecting ribs are compressed more readily than the remainingfiat part of the heel, giving a desirably good shock absorbing effect asthe foot is put down, and this effect is increased by the reinforces notextending entirely to the attaching face of the lift, permittingcompression and expansion of the rubber behind the reinforcing'members.The reinforcing material of fabric or-the like resists wear, so that theheel retains its symmetrical form and outline, and prevents the shoebeing down at the. heel fora very long time.

The anti-slipping properties of the heel are very good; the projectingfabric edges being well distributed over the entire surface of the heel.The arcuate reinforce at the back of the heel is particularly efi'ectivein preventing the foot from slipping forward, as

when the heel is put down upon an icy pavementor the like. i

It is to be understood that the construction illustrated is foraffording an understanding of my invention only, and not for limitation,and that modifications and changes may be made, Within the scope of myclaims, without departing from my invention or sacrificing theadvantages thereof.

I claim:

1. A rubber heel lift having embedded therein a fabric reinforcecomprising plies of fabric, normal to the tread surface, and of extendedarcuate form, arranged at the rear of the lift and having an end thereofcoiled about a nail opening.

2. A rubber heel lift having embedded therein a fabric reinforcecomprising plies of fabric, normal to the tread surface, and of extendedarcuate form, arranged at the rear of the lift, and terminating at itsopposite ends in rings coiled about separated nail openings in the lift.

3. A rubber heel lift having embedded therein a plurality of rings offabric surrounding nail holes at the rear portion of the heel andconnected by arcuate Webs of fabric substantially integral with therings, said rings and webs extending short of the attaching face of thelift and also extending beyond the tread surface, and formed of aplurality of plies of fabric arrangednormal to the tread surface.

In testimony that I claim'the foregoing, I hereto set my hand, this 11day of November, 1919.

GEORGE JOSEPH REUTER.

